Laguna Beach

Laguna Beach is a resort-residential community (population about 23,000 in 2018) along the Pacific coast in South Orange County in Southern California. It is known for its extensive artist community, seaside village atmosphere, beautiful beaches, and luxury resort hotels. Fans of the Beach Boys will recall the mention of the city in the song "Surfin' Safari". In warm sunny weather, Laguna Beach can have an overwhelming Mediterranean-island ambiance. Laguna Beach attracts a few million visitors a year.

Orientation
Laguna Beach lies along the coast of the Pacific Ocean with a ridge of hills bounding its eastern edge. The main road is Pacific Coast Highway, also referred to as Coast Highway, Highway 1 and PCH.

North Laguna This is the area from about High Street north to the city line at Crystal Cove State Park. This stretch of Coast Highway has a few restaurants and shops, but is main residential (large gated communities) with entry points to secluded beaches.

Main Beach / The Village This area fans out from Broadway, a street that becomes Laguna Canyon Road (CA 133, a main artery into Laguna Beach). To the north is the famous Gallery Row area and oceanfront Heisler Park. To the south is the village area with shops and restaurants. Broadway ends at Main Beach, with its boardwalk and popular sandy beach area.

South of Main Beach This is the long area from about Cleo Street south to Aliso Creek Beach. This stretch of Coast Highway contains a lot of shopping, restaurants, hotels and entry points to secluded beaches. Residential neighborhoods slope up the hills.

South Laguna This is the area from Aliso Creek Beach south to Crown Valley Parkway. It contains cliff side beaches, some restaurants and shopping, a hospital and residential properties.

By plane
Orange County's John Wayne Airport, also known as SNA is only about 15 miles from Laguna Beach. From SNA, you can get to Laguna Beach by one of several ways: rent a car and drive (most popular), take a taxi (about $50), take a door-to-door shuttle (about $30) or limo, or take the OCTA [see Orange County Transportation Authority below] bus #76 ($2.50, runs hourly) to the Newport Transportation Center and transfer there to the OCTA bus #1 that runs to Laguna Beach via the Pacific Coast Highway. All of these modes may be found at the SNA's Ground Transportation Center across the street from Terminal A and B, with the exception of the OCTA bus #76, which is boarded at the OCTA Bus Stop at the far end of Terminal B curbside.

By car
Laguna Beach stretches along the Pacific Coast Highway (CA 1) at the "T" intersection of Laguna Canyon Road (CA 133), which becomes Broadway in town. When arriving on summer nights during Pageant of the Masters performances expect a lot of traffic along CA 133 and plan extra time to get into town.

From John Wayne Airport, you can take either Interstate 405 (to the north) or CA-73 (to the south and partway a toll road) to get to CA-133 and south to Laguna Beach. Alternatively, you can drive south from John Wayne Airport to Newport Beach and pick up CA-1 to Laguna Beach.

By rail
There are Amtrak and Metrolink stations in Irvine, Laguna Niguel, San Juan Capistrano, and San Clemente. From there it will be necessary to take public transportation or a taxi.

Get around
Laguna Beach is a linear town stretched along the Pacific Coast Highway (CA 1) punctuated by several canyons. In town, Broadway (CA 133, which becomes Laguna Canyon Road out of town) divides the Pacific Coast Highway into the North Coast Highway and the South Coast Highway; address numbers increase outward from Broadway, with odd-number Coast Highway addresses on the ocean side.

By public transit

 * Orange County Transit Authority (OCTA). The OCTA Bus #1 runs up and down the Coast Hwy twice an hour.  Route #89 runs up Laguna Canyon Road to Laguna Hills twice an hour.
 * Laguna Beach Transit operates five trolley routes year round seven days a week (M-Th 6:30AM-6:15PM, F 6:30AM-11PM, Sa 9:30AM-11:15PM, Su 11AM-8:30PM). The routes are all named after the neighborhoods that they serve: Arch Beach Heights, Bluebird Canyon, Top of the World, North Laguna, and South Laguna. All routes loop back to the Transit Center on Broadway in downtown. In addition, all routes are free.
 * The city also operates three routes during the weekend with the same hours as the neighborhood trolley (F 4:30-11PM, Sa 9:30AM-11:15PM, Su 11AM-8:30PM) The routes serve the coast as well as up the canyon. All routes are free.
 * Short Coastal: Starts at North Laguna and travels along the coast to Mission Hospital in South Laguna. Frequency: 20 minutes.
 * Long Coastal: Starts at the Transit Center downtown and travels to the Ritz Carlton in Dana Point. Frequency: 30 minutes.
 * Limited Stop Canyon: Starts at Lot 16 (Act V) parking lot in Laguna Canyon and travels to downtown via Laguna Canyon Road.
 * All routes can be lenient on schedules so do not expect your trolley to be on time. The weekend routes do not run on a schedule.
 * Use the Trolley Tracker App to see a live map of where your trolley is. Available for iOS and Android.

By car
Although a car may be convenient, parking is at a premium in the summer; beware of having your car towed. You'll probably have to pay to park downtown in beach weather. The cheapest option is parking in the residential areas on the other side of Pacific Coast Highway, although you risk begrudging the residents. If you are trying to get downtown a good place to park is the district parking lot just across from Laguna Beach High School. From here you can take a short walk into town. Lot prices in the summer range from $7-15.

See
Before seeing anything, visit the Laguna Beach Visitors Bureau, 252 Broadway ( or ). It is in the heart of town and distributes lodging, dining, and art gallery guides. It's open Monday through Friday from 9AM to 5PM, and Saturday from 10AM to 4PM (plus Sundays in the summer).


 * Every summer there is the Sawdust Festival 935 Laguna Canyon Rd. It is going on at the same time as the Pageant of the Masters. Lots of brilliant local (Laguna Beach) art to look at.
 * Top of the World. So named because as the highest peak in the area, it provides a spectacular view of the ocean. Top of the World has been a longtime favorite destination for Orange County's romantically inclined. Sunsets and sunrises from this location are both incredible.
 * Every summer there is the Sawdust Festival 935 Laguna Canyon Rd. It is going on at the same time as the Pageant of the Masters. Lots of brilliant local (Laguna Beach) art to look at.
 * Top of the World. So named because as the highest peak in the area, it provides a spectacular view of the ocean. Top of the World has been a longtime favorite destination for Orange County's romantically inclined. Sunsets and sunrises from this location are both incredible.
 * Top of the World. So named because as the highest peak in the area, it provides a spectacular view of the ocean. Top of the World has been a longtime favorite destination for Orange County's romantically inclined. Sunsets and sunrises from this location are both incredible.

Do
There is very good scuba and skin diving in Laguna. Diver's Cove is in north Laguna.

Caution: Laguna is notorious for its shore breaking waves which cause countless neck and back injuries year round. Checking with lifeguards about the conditions is alway a must if you are thinking about going out in the water for your first time.
 * There are some good surfing breaks in Laguna however it is always best to check with lifeguards for the designated areas since it is not allowed at many beaches. But be weary and considerate since several breaks are pretty localized. Surfing tends to be more laid back at Thalia st since there are already a ton of people out in the water anyways. Grab a sponge board and hit the glassy shore break at Main Beach, or the neck breakers at Crescent Bay.


 * There are some steep streets going to Top of the World and Arch Beach heights that are great for downhill skateboarding. Especially the fire road between T.O.W. and Arch Beach heights. While you're up there check out the amazing view and a beautiful sunset.
 * Awesome tide pools at Moss Street--bring the kids and check out some sea anemones.
 * Experts only skimboarding at Victoria Beach and Aliso however there are strict rules about skimming during the summer.
 * Good mountain biking in Laguna Canyon and Laguna Wilderness Park. Laguna's mountain biking tends to be very vertical and will test your limits. Going off roading from the fire road between Arch Beach Heights and T.O.W. can be quite a rush.
 * Take a hike out in El Morro canyon.
 * Have a picnic in one of the many beautiful parks in the Laguna area.

Buy
The sales tax here is 8.25%, .5% higher than all other Orange County cities.


 * Check out the art galleries on Coast Highway, e.g., the stretch north of Bluebird Canyon. Its a nice stroll.

Eat
There are a wide range of options for dining in Laguna Beach. The high-end restaurants and inexpensive options are mixed together both in the village core and along PCH. Most restaurants will have their menu outside so that you can determine if the food and prices are what you're looking for.

Coffee

 * Starbucks, 180 North Coast Hwy adjacent to the Main Beach with a small parking lot.
 * Starbucks, 180 North Coast Hwy adjacent to the Main Beach with a small parking lot.
 * Starbucks, 180 North Coast Hwy adjacent to the Main Beach with a small parking lot.
 * Starbucks, 180 North Coast Hwy adjacent to the Main Beach with a small parking lot.
 * Starbucks, 180 North Coast Hwy adjacent to the Main Beach with a small parking lot.

Sleep




Go next
Laguna Beach makes an excellent launching point for other activities in the area. Disneyland is 25 miles away and Hollywood is about 60 miles away. However, there are plenty of things to do in the nearby area.

South of Laguna Beach The pleasant harbor city of Dana Point offers shopping, restaurants, great surfing beaches and a family-friendly Ocean Institute with exhibits. Farther south is San Clemente with its fine pier, famous surfing spots and more shopping and food options.

North of Laguna Beach Crystal Cove State Park offers overnight camping, gorgeous cliff side beaches and hiking. Just north of the Park is Corona Del Mar, a sleepy ocean community with good dining options. Beyond this is Newport Beach and Huntington Beach.

East of Laguna Beach The city of Irvine is vast. The Spectrum is large shopping complex near Laguna Canyon Road (CA 133) offering a wealth of shopping and dining, as well as a 21-screen theater including IMAX.